This is as basic a business casual outfit formula as they come, but it’s also very reliable. I mean, you can’t go wrong with a blazer, pants, and interesting top. Because I so rarely wear full suits these days, solid black pants with an equally solid black blazer look a bit stiff to me; luckily, my Cartonnier blazer offers a great alternative — still black(ish), but with a bit of texture to liven things up. My favourite thing about this outfit, however, is the fact that all of its components (other than the bag) are thrifted and have been frequently re-mixed. As much as I love the novelty of new (to me) items, I get a big kick out of re-wearing things I love in different (if predictable) ways.

black with a side of floralsshoes, Ramon Tenza (thrifted)

Here’s a close-up of the shoes, so you can appreciate that (faux) snakeskin iridescence in all its glory. Total Barbie shoes, amirite? But, from a distance, perfectly respectable. I get a kick out of that too.

You know what? December was a pretty decent month. The kids and I were sick through most of it, but I didn’t have much else to complain about. There were Christmas parties, and get-togethers with friends, and lots of fun family times. And wonderful, delicious food. So much food. I spent the last week of December in the stretchiest of jeans and loosest of dresses, and that’s only when I couldn’t get away with wearing my pyjamas. It was, well, blissful.

Of course, I did wear regular clothes as well, for at least 3/4 of the month.

I liked most of these outfits a lot, individually, but seeing them here makes me realize there wasn’t a ton of cohesiveness between them, once again. In some ways, it bugs me that I don’t have a more definitive style, but I’ve also come to accept that my wardrobe will never be as cohesive as some people’s. It’s impossible when you love prints as much as I do. I do have a lot of basic pieces, and those are actually surprisingly capsule-friendly, but when I put outfits together, the focus always ends up on the statement pieces that defy encapsulation, as it were.

I’m still debating whether to do a wardrobe challenge of some sort this year (just for fun!), but I’ve been preoccupied with other hobbies lately, so I haven’t had as much time to devote to this “project”. The beginning of the year is when I usually get an itch to do something new, so we shall see what happens in the next couple of months. If you have ideas for me, leave a comment!

This might be more of a “snooze” for some of you, but I loved this casual outfit so, so much. It was one of those slapped-together-at-the-last-minute looks that turned out nicer than expected. The combination of the cozy scarf (one of the most versatile and practical ones I’ve got) and the chunky sweater gave me the warm & fuzzies … literally and figuratively.

My boots are new-ish, and a Winners clearance rack score. I already have a pair of ankle boots I really like, but I thought a flat-heeled Chelsea boot might be a good addition — and what could be better than (discounted) Fryes? Well, here’s the thing. I like the look a lot, and I have no reason to expect the quality to be anything but good, but I have some reservations about these boots. The shaft is very — and I mean VERY — tight/skinny, which makes them a pain to put on and take off. Most of my skinny jeans are too bulky to tuck into the boots, and even if I get them in, they get un-tucked almost immediately. It means that I have to tuck them into socks first, which doesn’t help with the getting-my-foot-into-the-boots thing and … ugh, too much work. I’m hoping the leather will soften up with age, making this whole process less of a PITA.

scaaaaaaarf!all the neutrals

My bag, on the other hand, is not new. I bought it last year to replace my still-regretted purple version (which, much to my current chagrin, I sold a few years ago) and while I got a great deal on it, it has quite a bit of, um, patina. To wit, colour-fading. The soft, croc-embossed nubuck is definitely delicate, so this is not surprising. It’s what’s kept me from putting the bag through its paces … until the holidays. I wore it non-stop for a week, and loved how versatile and easy to use it was. (I usually keep the straps free, for easy access, and find that there little danger of spillage.) And I came to love its imperfections because I realized that (a) they make it look like a well-loved bag (which it should be) and (b) make me less worried about damaging it.

cozy layers ftw

NOTE: A new chapter of A Temporary Engagement is up, and you can read it here.